Celebrating Indonesian Design in Jakarta

Kosenda Hotel incorporates works by paintings and murals by Indonesian artists.

Hotel Kosenda

Opened officially in September, the 60-room Kosenda Hotel merges traditional Indonesian culture with contemporary design, an approach that is visible even before you step inside. The angled façade, which stands out amid the drab office buildings that surround it, is patterned with recessed diamond shapes that recall the woven palm-leaf wrappers, or ketupat, used to cook Indonesian rice dumplings.

The Design: Entrepreneur Ruben Kosenda, the hotel’s owner, says his vision for the Kosenda brand is to meld “local flavor and local design with international standards.” It makes sense, then, that he enlisted an all-Indonesian team of young architects, designers and artists for the design of his first hotel property.

Jakarta-based architecture firm Studio Tonton was behind the façade, while the city’s Domisilium Studio created the interiors, where mid-century furniture from Mr. Kosenda’s collection—including original Hans Wegner chairs—sit alongside pieces by the capital’s Walk The Plank design collective. Local artworks span the property, from the whimsical floor-to-ceiling mural of Jakarta by Sanchia T. Hamidjaja near the entrance, to the paintings by Triyadi Guntur Wiratmo that line the corridors.

Owner Ruben Kosenda contributed original mid-century furniture from his own collection.

Hotel Kosenda

The Rooms: Accommodations, which start at a cozy 16 square meters and overlook either neighboring buildings or the street below, were inspired by the idea of a 1960s home in the affluent Jakarta suburb of Menteng, with dark teakwood furniture, burnt-orange accents, and headboards printed with graphics that recall rattan weaving. Mod-cons such as iPods loaded with playlists featuring Betawi music and German duo Boozoo Bajou are complemented with cotton kimonos that come with matching batik sandals. Bathrooms, sectioned off from the main room with glass partitions, are functional rather than luxe, with showers but no bathtubs.

Note that some rooms near the front of the hotel are noisy due to their proximity to the street, while guests on the eighth floor, near the staircase leading up to the rooftop bar, may hear partygoers on their way in and out.

The Location: Kosenda Hotel lies about a kilometer from Jakarta’s sprawling shopping malls in the city center—a 10-minute walk if you’re willing to brave the heat. The convenience is a boon, since the city’s infamous traffic can reach a standstill during rush hour.

The hotel’s lobby

Hotel Kosenda

Tip: The hotel’s Awan Lounge is Jakarta’s latest rooftop bar du jour, drawing the city’s slick, young clubbers and hipsters with its lush garden setting, spacious outdoor seating and view of the city nine floors below. Drinks include a cocktail called the Ungu—“purple” in Bahasa Indonesia—which features raspberry vodka, crème de cassis, blueberry jam, lime and pomegranate juice. Grab a couch by 6 p.m. to watch the city’s skyline fall to night.

Getting There: Since there is no airport rail link, the best way to get to the hotel is by taxi—stick to the trusted Blue Bird Group taxi company. Expect to pay 150,000 Indonesian rupiah (around $12) for the 30-kilometer journey, which can last anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours depending on traffic. For those who want to sidestep the airport’s chaotic taxi queue, Kosenda Hotel offers transfers starting from 250,000 rupiah.